Katie wanted to go into Manhattan to see the Macy's Parade floats. It seemed like a better idea than trying to get out to see the actual parade. However, it appeared that several hundred thousand other assholes all had the same idea. The place was frigging packed.
I was highly skeptical (as I am of most things involving large crowds), and almost vetoed the idea, but Katie talked me into it, and it ended up being fun. Here's Pikachu's giant ass.
Then, of course....
Hello Kitty, in all her glory.
I think she was done up like a superhero, with a cape.
Kitty really lends herself well to the giant parade balloon treatment.
All the balloons were weighted down with nets and sandbags.
Katie thought it was grand fun.
Oh, Energizer Bunny, you just won't die, will you?
There's Dora. I actually created a character in World of Warcraft called "Dora", because there's a title you can earn for exploring all the areas in the world that then gets attached to your display name. It'll take a while, but "Dora the Explorer" will eventually roam the lands of Azeroth, I swear it.
Snoopy, in his World War One Fighter Ace getup. I overheard several people refer to him as "The Red Baron", which just goes to show you that most people are stupid as fucking shit.
Representing the 90s, Buzz Lightyear. (i.e., the last time Tim Allen was relevant)
I liked to picture these things coming to life, and struggling out of their nets, Gulliver-in-Lilliput-style.
The Macy's stars.
For Katie's birthday, we went to a lovely little Italian place called Basilica. It was much darker, cuter and cozier than it looks here.
The outside. Recommended.
We popped into the Sanrio store while we were out that night. They've redone the place to give it a slightly classier look.
Then we went to see Mary Poppins.
Ah, Christmas. Our second New York Christmas was even better than the first.
The tree was excellent. Katie had never used tinsel until she met me. It makes the tree much more sparkly.
Oh, poor us. Santa Claus passed us over this year.
Katie was cold.
Carnage.
Jade, Fauntleroy, Nuggy, Doody and Kitty try on their new Christmas gear.
We went to the Union Square Christmas Market to pick up some nice soaps for Katie, and we saw this sad-but-hopeful snowman.
We didn't get down to see the Rockefeller Center tree last year, so I promised Katie we'd get down to see it this year, despite my general dislike for gigantic crowds.
Aren't we lovely.
Great big Jesus tree.
It had a few lights on it.
It turns out we are actually around the back of the tree, and the crowd was massive. There was a viewing line you had to get in to see the "front" with that statue over the skating rink. You know the view I mean.
Part of our Christmas haul were a couple of Costco gift cards, which we put towards the purchase of this lovely exercise bike. I think it's great; I can sit and pedal and watch Battlestar Galactica. Here it is as Katie was putting it together. We don't have a picture of the finished bike. I'll get right on that.
I got Katie a Cooking Mama game for the Wii for Christmas. One of the dishes you make allowed you draw "patterns" on the finished product in white and black icing, with predictable results.
